18th Hobie 16 World Championships - Fiji

4:35 PM

Race 10 is on the water. First start was a General Recall. We are in sequence for another start.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

1 G O course. 1 nautical mile to the weather mark. Wind at 10-11 kts.

"Several" OCS with none coming back to clear.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Day one of the finals. Thursday the 18th here at 11:15 AM

The wireless connection has been down this morning. No problem... the wind is too.

We are getting a freshening breeze now out of the trade direction.

We got in 5 races to finish the semi with a total of 10. Boat assignments were done by finish position of the semis. I suspect we will be called off the beach soon.

Last nights "Cut" party was a good one. Lots of entertainment. It was another theme party. "Bollywood". Lots of indian dress.

I have a couple more image galleries to share. One from last evening after the last race of the day.

Yesterday: http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/wo ... index.html

This morning: http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/wo ... index.html

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Race 11 is on the water.

First race of the finals has left the beach (12:10 PM)

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

After waiting through a rain squal... they are now off on race 12.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Hey Matt what sort of crew weight are the top teams comming in at.Are most of the top teams sailing at min?

How are they adding weight to reach the 285 mark?

Im sorry what kind of weights are they using: dumbells, lead shot pouches, gold bars jaja?

I would say most are near or under min weight. That is always critical on the 16 for best performance in all but the windiest conditions.

Most weights carried are dive leads. The top guys always get weighed after a race if they are close to minimum. It is very important for them to monitor their weight as the hot conditions can cause quite a lot of weight loss during a few races. The smart guys carry weights to cover the variation.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Today is the final day of the event. We are now waiting for the breeze to fill on the course (10:00 AM). The boats are ready... sailors are geared up... the RC is trying to set the course. It is sunny and hot. A short bit of rain just now. Just enough breeze to keep it comfortable. As always, it is humid and sticky.

The organizers are getting ready for the finals banquet. They have dug up the floor of the main building and are building a river system complete with little bridges. They have added more lighting and are dragging in plants and flowers. This should be a HUGE one! The event has been filled with good music and foods, so I suspect that tonight will be over the top.

Tonight we arrange the boats for the take down process. We will be packing 20 in a container for export. The rest stay here. That is a good thing for the beach crew. We should be able to wrap this up tomorrow.

As always... it seems that time flies once it is over.

I only wish for more time to enjoy Fiji. The ones who have been traveling to other areas during the event have brought us wonderful stories about river rafting, diving, beautiful beaches, surfing and lots more... what a beautiful place. Thank you Fiji!

I took a bunch more pictures around the site this morning:

http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/wo ... index.html

Interesting... the Puerto Rican flag seems to have shrunk over night.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

They have been called off the beach for race 13. We are told they are planning 3 races this morning, back-to-back, no boat change.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

U mean they carry more weight than what they need...?
Meaning that if they need 10 pounds to reach the 285 mark, they will carry 5 more just in case they dehidrate or losse body weight and fall under?

Ill ask the guys what happened to the Puertorican flag when they get back on Saturday. Two of them are staying two weeks more to surf. Im sure its a joke from some other team snatching it at night!

Check out the "Druah" tacking.

Unfortunately, my camera lens cover clicked partly closed during this sequence... but you can get the idea.

They release the "tack" and walk it aft. They move the rudder from "stern" to "bow" and the boat reverses direction.

Earlier this week he was sailing with a sugar sack sail (sacks sewn together for sail cloth). The local ladies made this "traditional" sail during the week and he showed up today with it.

http://static.hobiecat.com/linked_images/wo ... index.html

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Race 13 done...

Pedro takes another bullet. Looks like Butler retains the lead still.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Race 14 has been postponed and the boats are headed in. There has been a lot of thunder inshore and the wind has died off as rain has come over us. (1:20 PM local time).

Lunch!

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

The 18th Hobie 16 World Championships is over... but for the party!

Friday 4PM local time - The Race Committee has just cancelled all racing for the rest of the day, and Mick Butler and Susan Etherington from Australia are our new Hobie 16 World Champions. The pair were duly thrown in the water and showered the sailors on the beach with champagne.



They have transformed the main building into a real jungle for the finals party complete with a river running down the middle. Should be a blast!

Check the event site later for complete results and photos.

Till next time... from Fiji... BULA!!

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)